Ross and Wyn Davies Travel Blog

Sunny Day in Mangawhai

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Ross

Monday was another good day in Mangawhai. I even woke up in time to see the sun soon after it rose. Winter is better for sunrise photography cos there is a better chance of being awake. But then it’s a lot colder. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged Mangawhai, Mangawhai Hotel, Te Aria Point | Leave a comment

Mangawhai Cliff Top Walkway

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Ross

Yesterday was a nice surprise; a fine sunny day. We wanted to make the most of it and set our sights on the Mangawhai Cliff Top Walkway, Trouble was; the round trip needs low tide and that was rather inconvenient. The first low tide was before 7am and that had been and gone. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log, Walks | Tagged abstract photos, Mangawhai Cliff Top Walkway, Northland, walking | 1 Comment

A Day Less Fine – Mangawhai Heads

Posted on August 22, 2015 by Ross

After our nice fine day yesterday we were expecting another good day today. So it was a bit of a surprise to wake to rain at Snells Beach this morning. It’s OK when you’re expecting it and not when you’re not. We’d set our hearts (and stomachs) on making it to the Mangawhai market so we packed up and got on the road. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged abstract photos, Mangawhai Heads, Northland, Snells Beach | 6 Comments

Back North For a Bit – Snells Beach

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Ross

This week we flew back to Auckland to pick up Suzi motorhome and hung out in Pukekohe for a couple of days getting the rearranged diesel heater sorted out. The weather was horrible and wet and we were keen to get out of the big city. So we headed off north through the rush-hour traffic yesterday evening. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged abstract photos, Auckand, Snells Beach | Leave a comment

A Bit of Old Industrial in Dunedin

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Ross

There was a last bit of Dunedin I wanted to catch before we left town yesterday. We were staying in Burnside which is/was the location of the Burnside Freezing Works. It was one of the first of its kind in New Zealand, opening in 1883. There is something Polish Industrial about it Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged Burnside Freezing Works, Dunedin | Leave a comment

Dunedin – The Steepest Little City?

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Ross

Dunedin claims the title for steepest street in the world. Baldwin Street is a popular drawcard. I was wondering though if it doesn’t also have the steepest car park. Using the Dowling Street car park a few times I was intrigued by the topography, and the angles of some of the parks. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged Dowling Street, Dunedin | Leave a comment

Taking to the Steets in Dunedin

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Ross

Sometimes you just can’t do nothing. Sometimes you can’t just hope that others do the stuff that you think needs to be done. Sometimes you just have to vote with your feet. We got the chance at the weekend to join the protest march against the TPPA – apparently a trade agreement that is in our best interests that is so important we are not allowed to know anything about it. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log, Rants and Raves | Tagged Dunedin, protest march, TPPA | Leave a comment

Prospect Park Perspective – Dunedin Views

Posted on August 16, 2015 by Ross

Early last week we sat and enjoyed lunch at Prospect Park, on the lower edge of Maori Hill in Dunedin. I did a fair bit of my early growing up not far from here, and Prospect Park was a regular part of that. It provides a great vantage point, in a city not short on great vantage points. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged Dalmore, Dunedin, Mt Cargill, Opoho | Leave a comment

Up Hill and Down Dale – Towards Mount Grand

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Ross

Last week we went for a walk from where we are staying in Burnside, down Kaikorai Valley in Dunedin. Wyn remembers bike rides towards Dunedin down Townsleys Road, and we could see that from where we are staying. So it seemed a good place for a walk last Friday Continue reading →

Posted in Biking - cycling, Daily log, Walks | Tagged biking, Dunedin, Mt Grand, Otago, walks | 1 Comment

Down And Up The Lake – Lake Hawea

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Ross

We enjoyed a couple of nights at Lake Hawea last week, with lakeside seats. A mean wind blew down the lake but this was more than made up for by the views up the lake. The wonderful thing about the Central Otago lakes is that they are ringed by hills and mountains. These hills and mountains provide a constantly changing light show Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged Central Otago, Lake Hawea, Otago | Leave a comment

Heading Up The Highway – Upper Clutha Valley

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Ross

Last week we went for a visit to Lake Hawea, driving from Dunedin through Central Otago. It was a novelty to be touring without our motorhome – we’d borrowed my son’s car. It was a bleak sort of day; cold with rain showers. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged Central Otago, Lake Dunstan, Upper Clutha Valley | Leave a comment

When the Sea Comes to Play – St Clair Beach Dunedin

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Ross

Last week after we’d been to walk along the beach at St Kilda we went to have a look at the sea at St Clair, a few kilometres to the south. While my connection is more with St Kilda, Wyn’s is more with St Clair. We were wondering why so many surfers were along at St Kilda when St Clair used to be the haven/hangout. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged Dunedin, Otago, St Clair beach | Leave a comment

Back to the Beach – St Kilda Dunedin

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Ross

I spent some of my growing up years less than a kilometre back from St Kilda beach. I couldn’t say I made the most of it or even appreciated it. Such is familiarity. It was nice to return last Monday though. We were downtown in Dunedin and it was a typically lovely winter afternoon Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged Dunedin, Otago, St Kilda beach | 1 Comment

Way Down South – Some Winter in Dunedin

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Ross

A week ago we came down south to Dunedin to catch up with family and friends. We left Suzi motorhome in Auckland to get some repairs done and have been house-sitting for a friend in Dunedin. Last weekend we were visiting in Waitati, including samosas at the morning market and a walk around the estuary. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log, Walks | Tagged Dunedin, Otago, Waitati, walks | 2 Comments

Backing The Truck Up #7 – Back to Otanewaiuku Forest

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Ross

A week after our first ramble in May in the Otanewaiuku Forest near Te Puke we went back to explore some more. Across the road from our first outing to the lookout is another loop track so we headed off on this one that time. The wonderful thing about these tracks is that they are real tracks. No gravel, no drains along the sides Continue reading →